Shoe.



w. A. ROUNDS.

SHOE. I APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, I 9l6- Patented N 0v. 6, 1917.

ATTV

WILLIAM A. BOUINIDS, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

SHOE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Nov. 6, 1917,,

Application filed April 29, 1916. Serial No. 94,294.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, wlLLIAM A. RoUNDs,

scription, re erence being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to shoes having flat soles such as are used forathletic purposes. The avoidance of a heel is particularly necessarywhere theshoes are used on specially prepared surfaces, such, forexample, as gymnasium floors, tennis courts, etc, where heels would beinjurious to the surface. Such flat or spring heels as. usually made,cause the wearers foot to assume an uncomfortable position, andfrequently result injuriously.

The general object of the invention is to provide a shoe having such acontinuous comparatively flat sole and the usual upper, while at thesame time bringing the foot of the wearer into the position to which heis accustomed in the wearing ofshoes provided with heels. I accomplishthis object by providin a tapered insert between the sole and insole,thus raising the heel of the wearer from the sole. This insert may becomparatively light and so constructed that it may be conveniently andinexpensively secured in position, and may be so incased as to provide adurable shoe having a neat and pleasing appearance;

My invention is hereinafter more fully described in connection with thedrawings, and the essential characteristics are summarized in theclaims. a I s In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shoeembodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectlonthrough the heel portion thereof, showing the insert and manner ofsecuring the same; Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the same,taken substantially 'on the line 33 of Fig. 2. 1

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 5 indicates the usual upper ofthe shoe, which may be constructed in any desirable manner for freedomof movement and elasticity, as

is desirable in athletic shoes, and which is shown as having the usuallaces 6. 8 indicates the sole of the usual heelless or spring-heel form,such as is desirable in athletic shoes, particularly where they are tobe used upon specially prepared surfaces.

The portion 8 preferably comprises a single strlp having a comparativelythin connectlng portion 9 under the arch of the shoe "and between theslightly thicker portion 10- forming the low heel and the forwardportion under the ball of the foot.

In the usual form of athletic shoes the upper 5 is secured to the flatsole, bringing I the heel of the wearer much nearer the ground than whenwearing a shoe provided with heels. Thus the position of the foot ischanged, which frequently results in serious discomfort, and sometimesactual injury to the wearer. To obviate this difliculty and yet notinterfere with the use of the shoe as an athletic shoe, I have provideda wedge-shaped insert between the upper and the sole at the heelportion, and so shaped that it may fit the foot of the wearer, causingit to assume its natural position and yet not be of sufficient weight toimpede the movements of the wearer. 1

In constructing the shoe the forward portion ofthe upper is secured tothe sole back to a point adjacent the ball of the foot, and from thispoint rearwardly the upperis secured to the upper side of thewedge-shaped insert 20, which tapers downwardly to meet the solesubstantially at the ball of the foot and which is preferably curvedat-22to fit the arch of the wearer. This insert comprises a wedge-shapedportion 24: of light material, preferably somewhat elastic, such forexample as cork, slightly narrower than the width of the sole and havingits sides curved parallel to the sides of the sole and wardly andsecured to a suitable insole, in-

dicated at- 27, which is in turn secured to the inwardly turned portion28 of the casing 25. This securing of the upper to the wedge isaccomplished in substantially the same man- 'ner as the upper is usuallysecured to the sole of a shoe, except that instead of the stitchesextending through the, sole itself,

they extend through the inwardly turned edge 28 of the casing 25. I

At 30 is indicated a counter constructed in the usual manner andsurrounding the heel portion, being turned inwardly with the contiguousportions of the upper and secured in position in the usual manner. Afiller strip 12 may extend around the outer portion of the sole andinwardly under the Wedge, as indicated in Figs; 2 and 3, which issecured to the inwardly turned portion of the casing'as well as to alower insole 32, extending along the upper portion of the sole strip 8throughout its length.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided anathletic shoe the upper and sole of which are constructed in the usualmanner," and I have provided an insert raising the heel of thewearerabove the low heel portion of the sole, into a position to whichthe wearer is accustomed. I have accomplished this by a constructionwhich does not involve difliculties and which permits such a shoe to bemade by existing shoe manufacturing machines. The insert being of lightmaterial does not impede the rapid movements of the wearer, and beingentirely incased by leather or likematerial, similar to that of theupper, afiords an appearance which is artistic.

messes Having thus described my invention, what ll claim is:

1. In a shoe, the combination of an upper, a continuous substantiallyflat sole, a wedge of light yielding material between the upper and thesole and tapering forwardly to meet the sole substantially at the ballof the foot, and a flexible casing extending about the sides and rear ofthe insert and turned" inwardly above and below the same and secured atone edge to the upper and at the other edge to the sole.

2. In an athletic shoe, the combination 0 a substantially flat rubbersole having no heel, an upper of the usual construction secured to thesole at the forward portion, a"

wedge-shaped insert of light material between the upper and the solehaving its thicker portion at the heel and tapering forwardlysubstantially to the ball of the foot and having its upper surfacecurved to fit the arch of the foot, a flexible casing about the inserthaving its edges turned inwardly above and below the insert, and meansfor securing such edges at the lower side to the sole and at the upperside to the upper of the shoe.

In testimony whereof, ll hereunto afiix my signature.

WILLIAM A. ROUNDS.

